Kitchen Fireplaces

Written by Robert Mac

Kitchen fireplaces are popular again, and it's been long time coming. The primary fire in a home--the hearth--was always the central meeting place: for meals, warmth, and socializing. In time, after we had better control of heating and fire, modern stoves took over the role of kitchen fireplaces. Generally, the glowing warm area people gather around today is the TV, but there's a movement back to the kitchen.

Electric Kitchen Fireplaces or Combustion?

We've come a long way since people gathered around the kitchen fireplace to chat and catch up, and in the process, fireplaces have developed greatly. It wasn't that long ago that people had coal-burning fireplaces in their kitchens; many of those were converted to wood or became obsolete when modern appliances arrived on the scene. Now we have electric kitchen fireplaces to throw in the mix, too.

Adding a fireplace to a kitchen can be a monumental undertaking--or an easy weekend project. It really depends on what you want out of your fireplace. For example, if you want to be able to cook in it, an electric fireplace won't help. For most people, though, their oven can handle all their cooking needs.

If all you want is the look and warmth of a fireplace, electric is the way to go: with realistic flames of refracted light and adjustable heat (or none at all), it fulfills your needs. Keep this in mind, too: adding a gas- or wood-burning stove will require building a chimney or flue to vent out fumes and smoke; it will require an inspector's okay also. But an electric fireplace can be put together in a few minutes and serve many of the same functions.